Iron Butterfly ( B3 )

Success with In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and first breakup (1968–1971)

The 17-minute "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", the title track of Iron Butterfly's second album, became a top-30 hit (edited down to 2:52) in the US in 1968, re-entered the Hot 100 chart in late 1969, and made the number-9 spot on the Dutch Top 40 in 1970. The members when In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was recorded were Doug Ingle (vocals and organ), Lee Dorman (bass guitar), Ron Bushy (drums) and Erik Brann (guitar and vocals). The album was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in December 1968  and had sold over three million copies by the end of 1970, going platinum along the way. It stayed on the Billboard charts for over a year and ultimately sold over 30 million copies.

Iron Butterfly played its first national tour in the summer of 1968 alongside Jefferson Airplane.

The band had been booked to play at Woodstock in August 1969, but got stuck at LaGuardia Airport. When they called the promoters of the concert, they explained the situation and asked for patience. However, their manager sent a telegram demanding that the Butterfly be flown in by helicopter, whereupon they would "immediately" take the stage. After their set, they would be paid and flown back to the airport. According to drummer Bushy, "We went down to the Port Authority three times and waited for the helicopter, but it never showed up". Woodstock Production Coordinator John Morris claims he sent the manager a telegram reading: "For reasons I can't go into / Until you are here / Clarifying your situation / Knowing you are having problems / You will have to find / Other transportation / Unless you plan not to come." The first letter of each line in the telegram spelled out an acrostic making clear that the band was not welcome.

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